Hunters see birds on opening weekend

South Dakota hunters had some success this weekend for the resident-only pheasant opener, which runs through today.

Brown County Conservation Officer Nick Cochran said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon that hunter activity Sunday was down compared to Saturday, but hunters that had been out were seeing pheasants.

Cochran said he's seen a decent number of hunters this weekend, and every group he's visited with has seen pheasants, although most groups Saturday typically had one pheasant in hand. Cochran attributed high winds Saturday to hindering hunting success.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife announced Friday that waterfowl production areas would be open to the public for pheasant hunting. Because it's federal land, the USFW initially announced that all WPAs would be closed to hunting because of the partial federal shutdown. USFW officials said that WPAs would be open to the public because the action would not cost the government any additional expense.

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Cochran said he did see some hunters on WPAs and others using walk-in areas or property enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

"Most were pleased that it was open," Cochran said of the hunters he visited with. Cochran also said other hunters were pleased when they found out the WPAs were open to hunting.

Cochran said so far he's issued some citations to hunters who have used lead shot on game production areas.

"We require non-toxic shot," he said. "Lead is a toxin."

The best alternative to lead shot is steel, Cochran said, and hunters are encouraged to simply use steel shot if they are hunting on and off public lands. According to the 2013 Hunting Atlas, non-toxic shot is required for small game hunting on both game production areas and waterfowl production areas. That rule does not apply to walk-in areas, property enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and the Controlled Hunting Access Program and cooperative hunting access areas. All of these areas require non-toxic shot for waterfowl hunting.